Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Across the Wire by Stella Telleria: Spotlight and Review

Synopsis:
When Mia Mitchell, a hardcore but lonely former Marine, steps into an alley to pull some thugs off an unlucky foreigner, she walks into a fight she expects. What she doesn’t see coming is the foreigner making her a job offer any sane person would refuse. So, she takes it. She thinks she’s headed for some third-world country; instead she’s mysteriously transported to an Earth-like parallel world. That’s a mad left-hook.
Mia discovers a matriarchal dystopia where freedom doesn’t exist and fighting for it means execution. Lethal force bends all to the law; women fear for their families and un-wed men suffer slavery. Mia’s job is to train an underground syndicate of male freedom-fighters for a violent revolution. However, the guys don’t want a pair of X chromosomes showing them the way.

Eben, an escaped slave, is encouraged by Mia to become a leader among the men. But when he turns his quiet determination on her, it spells F.U.B.A.R. for cynical Mia. Their unexpected connection threatens more than her exit strategy; it threatens the power struggle festering with in the syndicate.

Haunted by nightmares and post-traumatic stress, unsure who to trust or how to get home, Mia struggles to stay alive as she realizes all is not what it seems.

I had so much fun reading this book!It captured my attention and imagination from the first.Mia is often not very likeable, but she is definitely a force to reckon with.Bold as brass, she takes on a challenge more formidable than she ever imagined and in the process transforms herself and those around her.This is the first book in a planned series so there are questions and subplots left unresolved at the end but in no way was I left unsatisfied.This story arc ended well; without any major hateful cliff-hangers.There is just plenty of room to continue the fantastic world-building in the next adventure and watch the characters continual development as Mia settles into her mentoring role and continues to lead the struggle against an elitist and sexist regime intent on holding on to their brutish culture. Mia is also often at odds with those she is trying to help and must constantly watch her six.With its devilishly clever premise, robust and diverse cast, and flowing storyline, this science fiction tale kept me entertained while nudging me to think about certain social aspects that are normally taken for granted.

This book was given to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.

Reviewed by Laurie-J

AUTHOR BIO:

All my life I’ve dreamed of stories or have had my nose buried in one. I live in Edmonton, Canada with my husband and my weird sense of humor. Across the Wire is my first novel.

I love old war movies, dystopian fiction, and any story with action, a good plot, and characters I'd get into a fight at the pub for. Not that I'm a brawler or anything. Unless you think that out-of-print book or vintage piece at the thrift shop is going home with you instead of me. Then, my friend, the gloves are off.

Some say if you have your nose buried in a book, you're missing out on life. I say my nose is buried in a book because one life is not enough.

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